The Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to recognise Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) that have achieved at the highest level of their chosen sport. It was a joint project of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Macquarie University, under the management of Colin Tatz. Inductees are sometimes referred to as "Black Diamonds", being the name of the first book of the project, published in 1996.
The Hall of Fame was an outcome of Chris "Honky" Clark, a director of Aboriginal-owned and -operated sports complex in Condobolin, New South Wales. Clark saw the need to inspire indigenous youth through sports photographs. The costs of establishing a permanent photographic exhibition was too expensive. Musician and historian Ted Egan recommended a low-cost book. The outcome was the book Black Diamonds: The Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, published in 1996.[1]
The Hall of Fame was a joint project of ATSIC and Macquarie University, under the management of Colin Tatz with photography by Paul Tatz.[2]
The inaugural list of 129 members was determined by well-known Indigenous athletes: Mark Ella; Sydney Jackson; Faith Thomas; and Charlie Perkins. They were assisted by three non-Indigenous historians: Ted Egan; Colin Tatz; and Alick Jackomos.[1]
In 1999, the list of members was increased by 43. The 1999 selection committee comprised: Arthur Beetson; Evonne Goolagong Cawley; Lloyd McDermott; Mark Ella; Gary Ella; Charlie Perkins, Ted Egan, Ken Edwards, and Tatz. The committee was assisted by three statisticians/historians: Colin Hutchinson (Australian rules footballer), David Middleton (rugby league player) and George Bracken (boxing).[1] After the 1999 selection, the full list of 172 members with brief biographies was published in the book Black Gold : the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.
As of 2000 there was no permanent home for the Hall of Fame, but there had been several photographic exhibitions in Australia.[1] Colin and Paul Tatz donated 110 photographs from the Sports Hall of Fame to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).[3]
The 2008 selection panel included seven Aboriginal selectors: Arthur Beetson; Carl Currey; Gary Ella; Sydney Jackson; Lloyd McDermott; John Maynard; and Nova Peris.
The 2018 selection panel comprised Gary Ella, Katrina Fanning, Gilbert McAdam, John Maynard, Nova Peris, David Middleton, George Bracken, ColHutchinson and Colin and Paul Tatz. In 2018, there were 276 members of the Hall of Fame.
Members were selected if they met the following selection criteria:[1] [4]
Inductees are sometimes referred to as "Black Diamonds".[5]
| Athlete | Sports | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1868 Aboriginal cricket team | Cricket | Toured to England |
| Des Abbott | Field hockey | Olympian |
| Michael Ah Matt | Basketball | Olympian |
| Willie Allen | Australian football, shooting, soccer | |
| George Ambrum | Rugby league | |
| Bob Anderson | Athletics | |
| Kyle Anderson | Darts | |
| Bob Appo | Lawn bowls | |
| Leo Appo | Woodchopping | |
| Georgina Archer | Vigoro, Field hockey | |
| Albert 'Pompey' Austin[6] | Australian football, athletics | |
| Ben Austin | Swimming | Paralympian |
| Lawrence "Baby Casius" Austin | Boxing | |
| Sam Backo | Rugby league | |
| Badger Creek team | Australian football | |
| Soli Bailey | Surfing | |
| Charmaine Barney | Darts | |
| Tracey Barrell | Swimming | Paralympian |
| Ray Barrett | Athletics | Paralympian |
| Ashleigh Barty | Tennis | |
| Kurtley Beale | Rugby uniom | |
| Arthur Beetson | Rugby league | |
| Elliott Bennett | Boxing | |
| Eddie Betts | Australian football | |
| Lindsay Black | Roughriding | |
| Nathan Blacklock | Rugby league | |
| Adrian Blair | Boxing | Olympian |
| Steve Bowditch | Squash rackets | |
| Matt Bowen | Rugby league | |
| Patrick Bowman | Athletics | |
| George Bracken | Boxing | Born 1935. Australian Lightweight Champion. Active 1950s to 1960s. |
| Gordon Briscoe | Soccer | |
| Roger Brown | Cricket | |
| Peter Burgoyne | Australian football | |
| Shaun Burgoyne | Australian football | |
| Donna Burns | Basketball | Paralympian |
| Barry Cable | Australian football | |
| Johnny Cadell | Roughriding | |
| Jimmy Callaghan | Show ring riding | |
| Mabel Campbell | Cricket | |
| Preston Campbell | Rugby league | |
| Wally Carr | Boxing | |
| Joel Carroll | Field hockey | Olympian |
| May Chalker | Golf | |
| Tommy Chapman | Boxing | |
| Baeden Choppy | Field hockey | Olympian |
| Trevor Christian | Boxing, Refereeing | |
| Phynea Clark | Field hockey | |
| Mal Cochrane | Rugby league | |
| Louisa Collins | Basketball, soccer, field hockey | |
| Kevin Coombs | Basketball | Paralympian |
| Lynch Cooper | Athletics | |
| Reuben Cooper | Australian football | |
| Larry Corowa | Rugby league | |
| Gary Cowburn | Boxing | |
| Rohanee Cox | Basketball | Olympian |
| Edna Crouch[7] | Cricket | |
| Glen Crouch | Rugby league | |
| Justann Crawford | Boxing | Olympian |
| Robert Crowther | Athletics | |
| Tony Currie | Rugby league | |
| Nicole Cusack | Netball | |
| Johnny Cuzens | Cricket | |
| Laurie Daley | Rugby league | |
| Rose Damasco | Basketball, netball, softball and field hockey | |
| Tom Dancey | Athletics | |
| Bo de la Cruz | Touch football, Rugby sevens | |
| Bill Dempsey | Australian football | |
| Steve Dennis | Boxing | |
| Bernie Devine | Powerlifting | |
| Joseph Donovan | Boxing, Judging | Olympian |
| Leslie Duncan | Judo | |
| Caremelita Dunn | Basketball, netball, softball and soccer | |
| Jeffrey Dynevor | Boxing | |
| Leanne Edmundson | Soccer | |
| Joanne 'Jodi' Edwards | Powerlifting | |
| Gary Ella | Rugby union | |
| Glen Ella | Rugby union | |
| Mark Ella | Rugby union | |
| Marcia Ella-Duncan | Netball | |
| Steve Ella | Rugby league | |
| Katrina Fanning | Rugby league | |
| Polly Farmer | Australian football | |
| Jeff Farmer | Australian football | |
| Karl Feifar | Athletics | Paralympian |
| John Ferguson | Rugby league | |
| Sharon Finnan | Netball | |
| Sharon Firebrace | Basketball, volleyball | |
| Frank Fisher | Rugby league | |
| Eileen Foster | Darts | |
| Bianca Franklin | Netball | |
| Lance Franklin | Australian football | |
| Shane Frederiksen | Touch football | |
| Cathy Freeman | Athletics | Olympian |
| Daniel Geale | Boxing | Olympian |
| Ron Gibbs | Rugby league | |
| Eddie Gilbert | Cricket | |
| Jason Gillespie | Cricket | |
| Adam Goodes | Australian football | |
| Leigh-Anne Goodwin | Horse racing | |
| Evonne Goolagong Cawley | Tennis | |
| Jeff Goolagong | Softball | |
| Michael Graham | Australian football | |
| George Green | Rugby league | |
| Ivy Hampton | Darts | |
| Kenneth Hampton | Athletics | |
| Benn Harradine | Athletics | Olympian |
| Jack Hassen | Boxing | |
| Alec Hayden | Rodeo | |
| Maley Hayward | Australian football | |
| Alec Henry | Cricket | |
| Stephen Hill | Australian football | |
| Rollo Hinton | Boxing | |
| Percy Hobson | Athletics | |
| Donna Hunter | Softball, Field hockey, netball, basketball | |
| Felicity Huntington | Soccer | |
| Greg Inglis | Rugby league | |
| Frank Ivory | Rugby union | |
| Sydney Jackson | Australian football | |
| Des James | Australian football | |
| Glenn James | Australian football | |
| Kaylen Janssen | Soccer | |
| Nathan Jawai | Basketball | |
| Jerry Jerome | Boxing | |
| Allen Johnson | Rugby league | |
| Chris Johnson | Australian football | |
| Joe Johnson | Australian football | |
| Lindsay Johnson | Rugby league | |
| Patrick Johnson | Athletics | Olympian |
| Billy Jonas | Showring riding | |
| David Kantilla | Australian football | |
| Dale Kickett | Australian football | |
| Derek Kickett | Australian football | |
| Ted Kilmurray | Australian football | |
| Ian King | Cricket | |
| Shane King | Softball | |
| Robert Kinnear | Athletics | |
| John Kinsella | Wrestling | Olympian |
| Peter Kirby | Athletics | Paralympian |
| Jim Krakouer | Australian football | |
| Phil Krakouer | Australian football | |
| Lake Tyers Team | Australian football | |
| Julie Landy-Ariel | Rugby league, Oztag | |
| Steve Larkin | Field hockey | |
| Warren Lawton | Athletics,goalball | Paralympian |
| Joanne Leisputty | Softball, indoor cricket | |
| Bennie Lew Fatt | Basketball, Australian football | |
| Clifford Lew Fatt | Basketball, Australian football | |
| Terry Lew Fatt | Basketball, Australian football | |
| Chris Lewis | Australian football | |
| David Lilliard | Rugby league, Youth sport | |
| Michael Long | Australian football | |
| Kevin Longbottom | Rugby league | |
| Greg Lovell | Woodchopping | |
| Cliff Lyons | Rugby league | |
| Mallee Park Football Club | Australian football | |
| Brian Mansell | Cycling | |
| Jack Marsh | Cricket | |
| Anthony Martin | Weightlifting | Olympian |
| Andrea Mason | Netball | |
| Peter Matera | Australian football | |
| Merv Maynard | Horse racing | Son of Fred Maynard, father of John Maynard[8] [9] |
| Gilbert McAdam | Australian football | |
| Wally McArthur | Rugby league | |
| Darby McCarthy | Horse racing | |
| Lloyd McDermott | Rugby union | |
| Norm McDonald | Australian football | |
| Robert McDonald | Athletics | |
| John McGuire | Cricket | |
| Kelly McKellar-Nathan | Softball | |
| Michael McLean | Australian football | |
| Andrew McLeod | Australian football | |
| Mal Meninga | Rugby league | |
| Karen Menzies | Soccer | |
| Stephen Michael | Australian rules | |
| Patrick Mills | Basketball | Olympian |
| Lionel Morgan | Rugby league | |
| John Moriarty | Soccer | |
| Lorrelle Morrissey | Field hockey | |
| Danny Morseu | Basketball | Olympian |
| Johnny Mullagh | Cricket | |
| Cheryl Mullett | Badminton | |
| Sandra Mullett | Badminton | |
| Anthony Mundine | Boxing, Rugby league | |
| Tony Mundine | Boxing | |
| Michelle Musselwhite (nee Cosier) | Basketball | |
| Phil Narkle | Australian football | |
| Narwan Football Club | Rugby league | |
| New Norcia team | Cricket | |
| Doug Nicholls | Australian football | |
| Jade North | Soccer | Olympian |
| Michael O'Loughlin | Australian football | |
| Bruce Olive | Rugby league | |
| Shane Parker | Wrestling | |
| David Peachey | Rugby league | |
| Robbie Peden | Boxing | Olympian |
| Nova Peris | Field hockey | Olympian |
| Brooke Peris | Field hockey | Olympian |
| Charlie Perkins | Soccer | |
| Byron Pickett | Australian football | |
| Stacey Porter | Softball | Olympian |
| Scott Prince | Rugby league | |
| Cecil Ramalli | Rugby union | |
| Chad Reed | Motorcycling | |
| Amanda Reid | Swimming | Paralympian |
| Steve Renouf | Rugby league | |
| Redfern All Blacks team | rugby league | |
| Frank Reys | Horse racing | |
| Ron Richards | Boxing | |
| Samantha Riley | Swimming | Olympian |
| Cyril Rioli | Australian football | |
| Maurice Rioli | Australian football | |
| Brian Roberts | Boxing | |
| Frank Roberts | Boxing | Olympian |
| Billy Roe | Australian football | |
| Lionel Rose | Boxing | |
| Josh Ross | Athletics | Olympian |
| Rovers Football Club | Australian football | |
| Ron Saddler | Rugby league | |
| Wendell Sailor | Rugby league | |
| Charlie Samuels | Athletics | |
| Dave Sands | Boxing | |
| Adam Schreiber | Squash rackets | |
| Colin Scott | Rugby league | |
| Horrie Seden | Darts | |
| Dean Semmens | Water polo | Olympian |
| Dale Shearer | Rugby league | |
| Eric Simms | Rugby league | |
| Matt Sing | Rugby league | |
| Bobby Sinn | Boxing | |
| Delma Smith | Volleyball | |
| Peter St Albans | Horse racing | |
| St Mary's Football Club | Australian football | |
| Bridgette Starr | Soccer | Olympian |
| James Swan | Boxing | Olympian |
| Timana Tahu | Rugby league | |
| Gordon Tallis | Rugby league | |
| Sam Thaiday | Rugby league | |
| Faith Thomas | Cricket, field hockey | |
| Nathan Thomas | Water polo | Olympian |
| Hector Thompson | Boxing | |
| Jonathon Thurston | Rugby league | |
| Mark Tutton | Volleyball | |
| Reg Tutton | Volleyball | |
| Steve Tutton | Volleyball | |
| Twopenny | Cricket | |
| Kyle Vander Kuyp | Athletics | Olympian |
| Billy Waite | Horse racing | |
| Ricky Walford | Rugby league | |
| Andrew Walker | Rugby union | |
| Andrew Walker | Australian football | |
| Lloyd Walker | Rugby union | |
| Shannon Walker | Rugby sevens | |
| Robert Wandon | Athletics | |
| Gavin Wanganeen | Australian football | |
| Jack Watson | Roughriding | |
| Daniel Wells | Australian football | |
| Darryl White | Australian football | |
| Dean Widders | Rugby league | |
| Bobby Williams | Boxing | |
| Claude Williams | Rugby league, basketball | First and only Aboriginal basketball coach, in 1987[10] |
| Gary Williams | Boxing | |
| Harry Williams | Soccer | |
| Jesse Williams | American football | |
| Jimmy Williams | Rodeo | |
| Jim Williams | Rugby union | |
| Lydia Williams | Soccer | Olympian |
| Mariah Williams | Field hockey | Olympian |
| Fred Wilson | Roughriding | |
| Nicky Winmar | Australian football | |
| Harley Windsor | Ice skating | Olympian |
| David Wirrpanda | Australian football | |
| Rebecca Young (nee Anderson) | Rugby league, Rugby union | |
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards